We would remember Thee, O Lord,
According to Thine own dear Word,
Not for the truth we do believe,
Nor yet for all we do receive
Would we remember Thee.
Not for the part we have in Thee,
Nor yet for all we are to be;
We would remember Thee and prove
The power of Thy redeeming love
To sinners such as we.
We would recall the smallest shame,
The least insult to Thy dear name;
Could we Thine agony forget
The garden and the bloody sweat;
Lord, we remember Thee.
The treacherous kiss — the false arrest,
The trial of unrighteousness,
The Roman Pilate’s weak appeal
To Jewish malice, Roman zeal;
We would remember Thee.
The mocking, Herod’s cruel scorn
Set Thee at naught that fatal morn,
And Pilate yielding to the will
Of base intrigue and crafty skill;
Lord, we remember Thee.
That form by angel hosts adored
Was bared and beaten, Jesus — Lord,
The crown of thorns, the common hall,
The brutal soldiers’ jeering call;
Lord, we remember Thee.
Thy raiment parted to that horde;
They stripped Thee naked, Jesus — Lord,
The mocking robes of royalty,
The bowing head, the bended knee;
We would remember Thee.
But oh! that journey to the cross,
Bowed neath Thy load of grief and loss;
The basest mob Thou didst pass through
Of meanest Roman, lowest Jew;
Lord, we remember Thee.
In agony of pain and thirst
Men did to Thee their very worst;
Those deep, dark hours of agony
God’s holy face was turned from Thee;
We would remember Thee.
The sense of bearing sin for me,
God’s wrath about to fall on Thee,
The loud mysterious awful cry —
“Eli, lama sabachthani”;
Lord, we remember Thee.
The yielding up to God Thy breath,
Tasting for us the pangs of death,
The Roman soldier with the spear
Brought forth the blood and water clear;
Lord, we remember Thee.
Thy sleep of death in Joseph’s tomb
Mid nature’s kindest shade and gloom;
The weeping Mary’s joy to share
The resurrection morning there;
Lord, we remember Thee.
And so we follow to Thy name,
Sharing Thy deep reproach and shame;
Owning that we with Thee have died,
And risen with Thee the glorified;
Lord, we remember Thee.
M. S. Cecil